First official herding lesson pretty dismal!

Lola1969 · 03-03-2009, 11:46 AM

Ozzy took a herding instinct test last September and did really, really well! He did so well that he got a standing ovation from some of the onlookers who were there with their Aussies.

Cut to now and I have finally been able to get us a lesson last weekend - 30 minutes. All Ozzy wanted to do was play with the sheep. I never saw so much play bowing from him in my life. He had a few shining moments, but nothing compared to what he did in September.

I hate to say this, but I am so disappointed. We are going to try again, next time with perhaps smaller sheep? (I think that is what she said). Anyway, I think our instructor was less than impressed, although she did think Ozzy was very sweet, I assume too sweet for herding.

Anyway, just wanted to vent.

**MaggieRoseLee** · 03-03-2009, 11:48 AM

How old is he?

And I'd rather have playbowing then jumping on them to take them out for supper. Yummy, fresh mutton.

matildacroley · 03-03-2009, 11:48 AM

maybe he was having an off day?

MTAussie · 03-03-2009, 11:50 AM

lola,

Hang in there! The sheep followed Sugar at first because she was white! That was pretty disappointing! She got much better as time went on, keep going!
Where are you going to lessons?

Lola1969 · 03-03-2009, 11:50 AM

He's between 2 and 3.

Lola1969 · 03-03-2009, 11:53 AM

Debbie from Cheswood Kennels comes to Ashland about every other month, so we went out to Ashland. A couple out here have about 12 sheep and a few Aussies, so they open up their farm for lessons. We've also tried to see her in Chesapeake but she always books up so fast!

MTAussie · 03-03-2009, 12:35 PM

Thanks for the heads up! I am going to see if she has anything available to get started in herding again!
What did she have you do for your first session?

Lola1969 · 03-03-2009, 12:53 PM

She just assesed Ozzy again. Lots of me staying with the sheep and Ozzy following. Ozzy is a very cautious dog, so it takes him awhile to get started.

Ozzy and I would also separate from the sheep and tell Ozzy to bring them back to us, which he did most of the time with some prodding. But once he would get them back with us, it was playbowing and playbarking. He was just dying to get something started.

MTAussie · 03-03-2009, 01:39 PM

That can be nice when they are a little cautious instead of rushing right through the group and trying to take a chunk out!
I am just wondering how she starts people. I started Sugar just seeing how she would react, on leash, and then with three sheep in a small pen. Both trainers I worked with like to use rakes to keep them out and move them at first.

thanks for the info!

Lola1969 · 03-03-2009, 01:50 PM

We were in a small pen with three sheep. Pretty big ones too which is why I think she may want to try him with smaller sheep to start. He was not on leash at all as it was clear he wasn't going to do any harm. No rake or stick either - Ozzy responded to her arm. One good thing about him, he is VERY responsive to even slightest movements/corrections. Part of his cautiousness/anxiousness perhaps?

03-03-2009, 11:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
Lola1969 Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,023	First official herding lesson pretty dismal! Ozzy took a herding instinct test last September and did really, really well! He did so well that he got a standing ovation from some of the onlookers who were there with their Aussies. Cut to now and I have finally been able to get us a lesson last weekend - 30 minutes. All Ozzy wanted to do was play with the sheep. I never saw so much play bowing from him in my life. He had a few shining moments, but nothing compared to what he did in September. I hate to say this, but I am so disappointed. We are going to try again, next time with perhaps smaller sheep? (I think that is what she said). Anyway, I think our instructor was less than impressed, although she did think Ozzy was very sweet, I assume too sweet for herding. Anyway, just wanted to vent. __________________ Ozzy, CGC, HIC http://www.dogster.com/dogs/818435 http://www.shepherdrescue.org

03-03-2009, 11:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
MaggieRoseLee The Agility Rocks! Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Bushkill, PA (The Poconos!) Posts: 22,215	Re: First official herding lesson pretty dismal! How old is he? And I'd rather have playbowing then jumping on them to take them out for supper. Yummy, fresh mutton. __________________ MACH2 Bretta Lee Wildhaus CGC TC TQX Glory B Wildhaus NA, NJ, NF + LOL (still) "*Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much." - Oscar Wilde*

03-03-2009, 11:48 AM	#3 (permalink)
matildacroley Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 86	Re: First official herding lesson pretty dismal! maybe he was having an off day? __________________ Erin, Matilda's mom

03-03-2009, 11:50 AM	#4 (permalink)
MTAussie Master Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: VA Posts: 855	Re: First official herding lesson pretty dismal! lola, Hang in there! The sheep followed Sugar at first because she was white! That was pretty disappointing! She got much better as time went on, keep going! Where are you going to lessons? __________________ Tråd Killer Plate Hunder og Trener Tysk Gjeter Hund Vifte För de svaga har jag blivit svag, för att kunna vinna de svaga; för alla har jag blivit allt, för att jag i alla händelser skall frälsa några.

03-03-2009, 11:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
Lola1969 Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,023	Re: First official herding lesson pretty dismal! He's between 2 and 3. __________________ Ozzy, CGC, HIC http://www.dogster.com/dogs/818435 http://www.shepherdrescue.org

03-03-2009, 11:53 AM	#6 (permalink)
Lola1969 Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,023	Re: First official herding lesson pretty dismal! Debbie from Cheswood Kennels comes to Ashland about every other month, so we went out to Ashland. A couple out here have about 12 sheep and a few Aussies, so they open up their farm for lessons. We've also tried to see her in Chesapeake but she always books up so fast! __________________ Ozzy, CGC, HIC http://www.dogster.com/dogs/818435 http://www.shepherdrescue.org

03-03-2009, 12:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
MTAussie Master Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: VA Posts: 855	Re: First official herding lesson pretty dismal! Thanks for the heads up! I am going to see if she has anything available to get started in herding again! What did she have you do for your first session? __________________ Tråd Killer Plate Hunder og Trener Tysk Gjeter Hund Vifte För de svaga har jag blivit svag, för att kunna vinna de svaga; för alla har jag blivit allt, för att jag i alla händelser skall frälsa några.

03-03-2009, 12:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lola1969 Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,023	Re: First official herding lesson pretty dismal! She just assesed Ozzy again. Lots of me staying with the sheep and Ozzy following. Ozzy is a very cautious dog, so it takes him awhile to get started. Ozzy and I would also separate from the sheep and tell Ozzy to bring them back to us, which he did most of the time with some prodding. But once he would get them back with us, it was playbowing and playbarking. He was just dying to get something started. __________________ Ozzy, CGC, HIC http://www.dogster.com/dogs/818435 http://www.shepherdrescue.org

03-03-2009, 01:39 PM	#9 (permalink)
MTAussie Master Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: VA Posts: 855	Re: First official herding lesson pretty dismal! That can be nice when they are a little cautious instead of rushing right through the group and trying to take a chunk out! I am just wondering how she starts people. I started Sugar just seeing how she would react, on leash, and then with three sheep in a small pen. Both trainers I worked with like to use rakes to keep them out and move them at first. thanks for the info! __________________ Tråd Killer Plate Hunder og Trener Tysk Gjeter Hund Vifte För de svaga har jag blivit svag, för att kunna vinna de svaga; för alla har jag blivit allt, för att jag i alla händelser skall frälsa några.

03-03-2009, 01:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
Lola1969 Elite Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 1,023	Re: First official herding lesson pretty dismal! We were in a small pen with three sheep. Pretty big ones too which is why I think she may want to try him with smaller sheep to start. He was not on leash at all as it was clear he wasn't going to do any harm. No rake or stick either - Ozzy responded to her arm. One good thing about him, he is VERY responsive to even slightest movements/corrections. Part of his cautiousness/anxiousness perhaps? __________________ Ozzy, CGC, HIC http://www.dogster.com/dogs/818435 http://www.shepherdrescue.org

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